Delta Air Lines urges DoJ to include all carriers in slot and gate divestitures

Delta Air Lines urged (13-Nov-2013) the US Department of Justice (DoJ) to consider all airlines in the process for divesting airport slots and assets, following the DoJ's settlement of its litigation challenging the merger of American Airlines and US Airways. The carrier said it would like the opportunity to bid for slots and facilities at Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport and Dallas Love Field. Delta stated: "With a flexible fleet that includes smaller aircraft designed for small markets, Delta would provide service to small and medium-sized communities from impacted markets, particularly at Reagan National Airport, similar to its operation at New York-LaGuardia, where more than 50 percent of Delta's destinations are small- and medium-sized communities. Other airlines expressing an interest in slots at Reagan National do not operate aircraft which will enable twice-daily flights to most medium-sized cities. Delta believes that DoJ should not predetermine what communities will receive service with Reagan National slots or Love Field gates, and that it shouldn't exclude any airline from the opportunity to bid for them." [more - original PR]